Omaha daily bee., 1887-01-12


Inadequate Remedies.
We took occasion some time since to
refer to the profitlcss platitudes of the
president IN his last annual message rcla-
tive to the condition and requirements of
labor, and to reflect upon the narrow
view which public men generally are dis
posed to take, doubtless from sense of
political expedience, of this always fresh
and vital subject. AS Governor Hill, of
New York, occupies IN his relations to
his party position second only to that
of Mr.. Cleveland and is unquestionably
an aspirant for higher political honor
than that of governor, it is interesting
to note his opinions respecting what is
desirable to be done in the interest of
labor. In his commercially brief mes
sage to the legislature. Governor Hill de-
voted more space to this than to any other
subject, but it is perhaps needless to say
that his treatment of 1t is marked by the
same narrowness and obvious constraint
which characterize the utterances of all
mere politicians regarding the labor prob
lem. He recommends the careful consider
alton of the demands of workingmen for
reduction of the hours of labor, and says
it is the true policy of the state to elevate
and dignity labor, mot by cXacting the
greatest amount of toll that the laboring
classes are capable OF furnishing, but by
lcgitimately encouraging every honest
effort to improve their condition
and requiring that only reasonable hours
of labor shall constitute days work,
for which full and adequate compen-
cb h., ,,
pensation, he atlirms, will best preserve
the dignity of labor, and he proceeds to
instruct the members of the legislature as
to what better compensation would &C.
complish in details. 1t would furnish
greater facilities for education, more
comfortable homes, more coptentcd fam
lilies, better opportunities for recreation,
rs well as tend to develop noblcr aims
and purposes on the part of working
men, greater interest IN the peace and
prosperity of the state, and higher ideas
of citizenship.
Plethoric with platltudes, Governor
Hill emits them freely Poverty is one
great source of discomfort" he sapiently
remarks; ''ovcrwork, poorly recon-
penscd, is another Therefore, he sug-
gests that the demand of wage workers
for shorter hours and increased compen.
sation is entitled to respectful considera
ton, with view to legislation that may
aid in the accom- plishment of such re.
suits But if the attainment of these de-
sirable conditions by statute should not
be practicable, the legislature has the
unquestionable power to declare certain
days to be legal holidays, and the gov
crnor suggests that it may be advisable
to exercise this power, in order that the
workingmau may have u part or the
whole, of every Saturday, or every other
Saturday. to devote to his personal en-
joyment. In any event he recommends
that one day of the year be set apart as
legal holiday, to be known as Labor
Day'--though in fact nonlabor day-and
to be observed by all the people as a day
of festivity and recreation, and devoted
especially to the interests and welfare of
labor.
Now all this is well enough as far as it
goes, but who can fail to see that it is
nothing more than the politicians cheap
sop to labor. Unfortunately, too, labor
permits itself to be caught by it, and con-
tinually builds hopes upon such shallow
professions of regard for its interests.
Every intelligent workman understands
the situation set forth by Governor Hill
quite as well as lie does, but all working
men do not understand, as we have no
doubt the governor does, though as a
politician he would not dare to publicly
proclaim it, that there is another way
widely different from any suggested by
the governor by which the interests of
labor can be most directly and effectively
promoted, and 1t is a way tar more
simple and practicable than that of in
creasing the compensation and lessening
the hours of labor. That way is to pre-
vent the combinations of capital and the
creation of corporate monopoies for
plundering the people, such, for example,
as the anthracite coal combination, which
annually robs the consumers to the extent
of at least 100000, COO which keeps an
army Of miners out of employment dur
ing one-quarter of the year, and which
by advancing the price of coal to every
manufacturer in the land who must use
il as fuel precludes the labor in such in
dustrles from receiving better
compensation. Remove the tax
imposed upon the people by
the eXactions of corporate monopolies
and unnecessary tariff duties and the
buying power of the wageworkers' dol.
lar would be increased by one-quarter or
one.third. That is the most direct, the
most feasible. and the most just way of
helping the workingman, but politicians
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